Patents by Inventor Elliot En-Yu Hui
Elliot En-Yu Hui has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
-
Patent number: 11754579Abstract: Arrays of droplet-on-demand dispensers are controlled by a row-column addressing scheme that can reduce the number of on-chip address lines, thereby making it feasible to construct large dispenser arrays. Decoders are used to further reduce the number of control lines that select a specific address line. A microfluidic logic controller includes row-select lines, each coupled to dispensers disposed on the same row, and column-select lines, each coupled to dispensers disposed on the same column such that each dispenser is associated with a unique row-column address. A logic circuit can actuate a dispenser only if the logic circuit receives signals from both of the row-select line and the column-select line corresponding to the row-column address of the selected dispenser. Reagents can be dispensed from the dispenser array, thereby allowing for rapid formatting of a reagent library into microfluidic droplets.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2018Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIAInventors: Elliot En-Yu Hui, Erik Morgan Werner
-
Publication number: 20230149923Abstract: The present invention is directed to the fabrication and use of phase-change material (PCM) membranes in microvalves for microfluidic systems. The microvalve may be fabricated by using a tissue-sectioning instrument to slice a thin membrane of PCM off of a block of PCM. The membrane may then be sandwiched between a plurality of microfluidic flow sections to act as a microvalve. At room temperature, the membrane may exist in a solid state to act as a zero-leakage seal and microvalve. Applying heat to the membrane may bring the membrane to a melting point, causing it to reach a liquid state. The microvalve in the liquid state may experience a surface tension effect by a material of the microfluidic flow sections, causing it to displace from a flow path and allow a fluid to pass from one microfluidic flow section to another.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2021Publication date: May 18, 2023Inventors: Elliot En-Yu Hui, Hinesh Vipul Patel
-
Patent number: 11427798Abstract: A tissue dissociation device includes an inlet coupled to a first stage having a single channel having an upstream end and a downstream end; a plurality of serially arranged intermediate stages, wherein a first intermediate stage of the plurality is fluidically coupled to the downstream end of the first stage, and wherein each subsequent intermediate stage of the plurality has an increasing number of channels (with channels of smaller dimensions); and an outlet coupled to a last stage of the intermediate stages.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2020Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIAInventors: Jered Haun, Janice De Jesus, Elliot En-Yu Hui, Jiang Li
-
Publication number: 20220009764Abstract: The present invention features a stretchable strain sensor for detecting minute amounts of strain or pressure. The stretchable strain sensor may comprise a first soft polymer layer, a wrinkled conductive layer disposed on the first soft polymer layer, and a second soft polymer layer disposed on the wrinkled conductive layer. Strain applied to the sensor may cause the wrinkled conductive layer to stretch and crack and send a signal based on resistance. Pressure applied to the sensor may cause the wrinkled conductive layer to deform and crack and send a signal based on resistance. The stretchable strain sensor may be capable of measuring contractions of a tissue, detecting fluid flowing through a microfluidic channel, and detecting whether a microfluidic valve is closed or not.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2021Publication date: January 13, 2022Inventors: Yongxiao Zhou, Michael Chu, Thao Nguyen, Michelle Khine, Erik Morgan Werner, Elliot En-Yu Hui, Eugene Lee, Kevin Costa
-
Publication number: 20210379592Abstract: This invention describes a design for a multiwell plate that contains integrated pumps that are used to stir each well of the plate. The device employs microfluidic logic technology to drive each peristaltic pump. This enables the plates to run autonomously, requiring only a static vacuum supply for power. The devices are entirely constructed out of low-cost polymers, with no electronics, and yet contains simple digital logic circuits to control the pumps. A stack of these plates may be run continuously in a standard cell culture incubator, allowing high-throughput culture of organoids.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2021Publication date: December 9, 2021Inventors: Elliot En-Yu Hui, Erik Morgan Werner, Philip N. Duncan, Transon V. Nguyen, Siavash Ahrar
-
Publication number: 20200283723Abstract: A tissue dissociation device includes an inlet coupled to a first stage having a single channel having an upstream end and a downstream end; a plurality of serially arranged intermediate stages, wherein a first intermediate stage of the plurality is fluidically coupled to the downstream end of the first stage, and wherein each subsequent intermediate stage of the plurality has an increasing number of channels (with channels of smaller dimensions); and an outlet coupled to a last stage of the intermediate stages.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2020Publication date: September 10, 2020Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIAInventors: Jered Haun, Janice De Jesus, Elliot En-Yu Hui, Jiang Li
-
Patent number: 10683480Abstract: A tissue dissociation device includes an inlet coupled to a first stage having a single channel having an upstream end and a downstream end; a plurality of serially arranged intermediate stages, wherein a first intermediate stage of the plurality is fluidically coupled to the downstream end of the first stage, and wherein each subsequent intermediate stage of the plurality has an increasing number of channels (with channels of smaller dimensions); and an outlet coupled to a last stage of the intermediate stages.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2017Date of Patent: June 16, 2020Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIAInventors: Jered Haun, Janice De Jesus, Elliot En-Yu Hui, Jiang Li
-
Publication number: 20200150142Abstract: Arrays of droplet-on-demand dispensers are controlled by a row-column addressing scheme that can reduce the number of on-chip address lines, thereby making it feasible to construct large dispenser arrays. Decoders are used to further reduce the number of control lines that select a specific address line. A microfluidic logic controller includes row-select lines, each coupled to dispensers disposed on the same row, and column-select lines, each coupled to dispensers disposed on the same column such that each dispenser is associated with a unique row-column address. A logic circuit can actuate a dispenser only if the logic circuit receives signals from both of the row-select line and the column-select line corresponding to the row-column address of the selected dispenser. Reagents can be dispensed from the dispenser array, thereby allowing for rapid formatting of a reagent library into microfluidic droplets.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2018Publication date: May 14, 2020Inventors: Elliot En-Yu Hui, Erik Morgan Werner
-
Publication number: 20190153376Abstract: This invention describes a design for a multiwell plate that contains integrated pumps that are used to stir each well of the plate. The device employs microfluidic logic technology to drive each peristaltic pump. This enables the plates to run autonomously, requiring only a static vacuum supply for power. The devices are entirely constructed out of low-cost polymers, with no electronics, and yet contains simple digital logic circuits to control the pumps. A stack of these plates may be run continuously in a standard cell culture incubator, allowing high-throughput culture of organoids.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2019Publication date: May 23, 2019Inventors: Elliot En-Yu Hui, Erik Morgan Werner, Philip N. Duncan, Transon V. Nguyen, Siavash Ahrar
-
Patent number: 10190083Abstract: A device for interfacing coatings, the device comprising at least one well each comprising an elastomeric bottom surface. At least one slit is formed on the elastomeric bottom surface. At least one removable divider is removably inserted into the at least one slit, whereby at least one gap is created and the at least one well is divided into at least two compartments. A designated coating is lined on the elastomeric bottom surface of each of the at least two compartments. Removal of the at least one removable divider then causes the at least one gap to close, allowing for the designated coatings lined on the elastomeric bottom surface of each of the at least two compartments to interface with each other.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2016Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIAInventors: Elliot En-Yu Hui, Jiang Li, Monica Young Kim, Allison Lee Curtis
-
Publication number: 20180023552Abstract: Microfluidic oscillator circuits and pumps for microfluidic devices are provided. The microfluidic pump may include a plurality of fluid valves and a microfluidic oscillator circuit having an oscillation frequency. The fluid valves may be configured to move fluids. Each fluid valve may be connected to a node of the microfluidic oscillator circuit. The pumps may be driven by the oscillator circuits such that fluid movement is accomplished entirely by circuits on a microfluidic chip, without the need for off-chip controls.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2017Publication date: January 25, 2018Inventors: Elliot En-Yu Hui, Philip N. Duncan, Transon V. Nguyen
-
Patent number: 9797524Abstract: Pneumatic devices for implementing finite state machines are provided. In some implementations, the pneumatic device comprises a state register component configured to hold one of a set of possible states. The pneumatic device also comprises a next-state logic block component configured to determine a next state for the state register component based at least in part on a current state of the state register component. A pneumatic programmable logic array (PLA) implementing a next state logic block of a finite state machine is also provided. The pneumatic PLA comprises an elastomeric membrane containing a pattern of holes and disposed between two channel layers of a pneumatic device. The PLA receives one or more input values representing a current state of a state register and one or more input values representing a user input and calculates one or more output values representing a next state for the state register.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2015Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Elliot En-Yu Hui, Siavash Ahrar
-
Publication number: 20170131187Abstract: A tissue dissociation device includes an inlet coupled to a first stage having a single channel having an upstream end and a downstream end; a plurality of serially arranged intermediate stages, wherein a first intermediate stage of the plurality is fluidically coupled to the downstream end of the first stage, and wherein each subsequent intermediate stage of the plurality has an increasing number of channels (with channels of smaller dimensions); and an outlet coupled to a last stage of the intermediate stages.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2017Publication date: May 11, 2017Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIAInventors: Jered Haun, Janice De Jesus, Elliot En-Yu Hui, Jiang Li
-
Patent number: 9580678Abstract: A tissue dissociation device includes an inlet coupled to a first stage having a single channel having an upstream end and a downstream end; a plurality of serially arranged intermediate stages, wherein a first intermediate stage of the plurality is fluidically coupled to the downstream end of the first stage, and wherein each subsequent intermediate stage of the plurality has an increasing number of channels (with channels of smaller dimensions); and an outlet coupled to a last stage of the intermediate stages.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2014Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIAInventors: Jered Haun, Janice De Jesus, Elliot En-Yu Hui, Jiang Li
-
Publication number: 20160310989Abstract: A device for interfacing coatings, the device comprising at least one well each comprising an elastomeric bottom surface. At least one slit is formed on the elastomeric bottom surface. At least one removable divider is removably inserted into the at least one slit, whereby at least one gap is created and the at least one well is divided into at least two compartments. A designated coating is lined on the elastomeric bottom surface of each of the at least two compartments. Removal of the at least one removable divider then causes the at least one gap to close, allowing for the designated coatings lined on the elastomeric bottom surface of each of the at least two compartments to interface with each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2016Publication date: October 27, 2016Inventors: Elliot En-Yu Hui, Jiang Li, Monica Young Kim, Allison Lee Curtis
-
Publication number: 20160208833Abstract: Pneumatic devices for implementing finite state machines are provided. In some implementations, the pneumatic device comprises a state register component configured to hold one of a set of possible states. The pneumatic device also comprises a next-state logic block component configured to determine a next state for the state register component based at least in part on a current state of the state register component. A pneumatic programmable logic array (PLA) implementing a next state logic block of a finite state machine is also provided. The pneumatic PLA comprises an elastomeric membrane containing a pattern of holes and disposed between two channel layers of a pneumatic device. The PLA receives one or more input values representing a current state of a state register and one or more input values representing a user input and calculates one or more output values representing a next state for the state register.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2015Publication date: July 21, 2016Inventors: Elliot En-Yu Hui, Siavash Ahrar
-
Publication number: 20140377866Abstract: A tissue dissociation device includes an inlet coupled to a first stage having a single channel having an upstream end and a downstream end; a plurality of serially arranged intermediate stages, wherein a first intermediate stage of the plurality is fluidically coupled to the downstream end of the first stage, and wherein each subsequent intermediate stage of the plurality has an increasing number of channels (with channels of smaller dimensions); and an outlet coupled to a last stage of the intermediate stages.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2014Publication date: December 25, 2014Inventors: Jered Haun, Janice De Jesus, Elliot En-Yu Hui, Jiang Li